2014 Volkswagen Jetta

2014 Volkswagen Jetta may not be the first name springing to mind when compact-sized transports pop up in friendly conversation, but its variety of under-hood offerings certainly sparks up dialog. Volkswagen’s peppy Jetta offers an unprecedented array of powertrains (including a high-mileage turbo diesel and a higher-mileage gas-electric hybrid) that certainly deserve scrutiny especially if prioritizing fuel economy.

Model Lineup:

The 2014 VW Jetta is offered in multiple styles ranging from the affordable but underpowered Jetta 2.0 S to the speedy Jetta GLI sport sedan. In between are mainstream SE, luxury oriented SEL, and both TDI and Hybrid fuel efficiency champs.

Engines and Transmissions:

The Jetta 2.0 S is equipped with a 115-horsepower, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. Choose a Jetta 1.8T SE or SEL equipped with this year’s new turbocharged, 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and you’ll have more power and significantly better acceleration combined with impressive fuel economy. A turbocharged 4-cylinder is also installed in the Jetta GLI, a 2.0-liter engine cranking out 210 horsepower.

The Jetta TDI and Jetta Hybrid models produce the best fuel economy numbers. The former is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel 4-cylinder engine that generates 140 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of torque. The latter is equipped with a 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, an electric assist motor, and a lithium-ion battery to produce a combined 170 horsepower.

Depending on the engine choice, the Jetta is offered with a manual, an automatic, or a Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) automated manual transmission. All are front-wheel drive, and all include free scheduled maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles.

Fuel Economy Ratings:

In combined driving, the Jetta 2.0 S models return between 25 mpg and 28 mpg, depending on transmission choice. The Jetta 1.8T SE and 1.8T SEL deliver 30 mpg with a manual gearbox and 29 mpg with the optional automatic, while the Jetta GLI is rated 26 mpg or 27 mpg. Buyers seeking fuel efficiency will want the TDI, which gets 34 mpg regardless of transmission choice, or the Jetta Hybrid, which returns 45 mpg.

Safety Ratings:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2014 VW Jetta receives a 4-star frontal-impact crash-test rating and a 4-star side-impact rating. The NHTSA has not assessed the 2014 Jetta’s side-impact rating as this overview is written.

Last year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Jetta a “Good” rating in all assessments except for the new small overlap frontal impact test, for which the car received a “Marginal” rating.

Technology Highlights:

Volkswagen’s new Car-Net telematics system is optional for the Jetta SE, and standard on SEL, TDI, Hybrid and GLI trim levels. It includes subscription-based services including Automatic Crash Notification, Boundary Alert, Speed Alert, remote vehicle access, and more.